Moving cylinder type internalcombustion engine



Aug. 2, 1949.

Filed Aug. 6, 1944 "H. E. MccAL'LloN 2,477,885

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2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 30 loA 3o 25 INVENToR.

HUGH@ MccALLloN ATTORNEYS H. E. MccALLloN Aug. z, 1949.y

MOVING CYLINDER TYPE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION NQINE 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Aug. 5, 1944 INVENTOR.

HUGH E.McCALLION Fles.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 2, 1949 MOVING CYLINDER TYPE. INTERNAL- coivinnstrroivy ENGINE I. Hugh E. McCallion, Roseville, Mich. Appiicaticn August 5, 1944, serial No. 548,172

The present invention relates to intern-al combustion enginas.

Among the objects of the present invention is an engine inv which the displacement is greater than i'n conventional engines having thesame piston stroke.

Another object is an engine in which the compression is greater than in conventional engines having the saine piston stroke.

Another object is an engine in which each of the reciprocating parts is balanced by a similar and equal weight part, thus making for smooth operation.

Another object is an engine in which reciprocatory cylinders are utilized not only as power producers but also as sleeve valves.

Still another object is to provide novel guide means preventing piston slap.

Still another object is an enginein which the effective piston movement is increased without increasing its speed.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view longitudinally and centrally of the cylinders of a bank of four cylinders of an engine, shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a cylinder showing the operating cams in section and the cylinder and piston at one end of a stroke.

Fig. 3 is a similar View with the cylinder and piston vat the other end of the stroke.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing a modiecl form of cam, and

Fig. 5 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification.

In the drawings, an engine produced in accordance Awith the present invention is shown to consist of a group of cylinders and pistons arranged in the same plane around a centrally located shaft and both the cylinders `and pistons reciprocable radially toward and from the shaft. Preferably, the cylinders and their respective pistons are in even number and diametrically opposite cylinders simultaneously approach or recede from each other, their pistons at the same time moving in the opposite direction.

Referring t Fig. l, such `an engine will be seen to consist of a plurality of cylinders III, II, I2, and I3, arranged radially about a shaft I8, and provided with pistons IDA, IIA, I2A, and I3A.

Each of the cylinders is provided with a pair of bosses or trunnions I4, which may be rollers, adapted to coact with a pair of face cams I 1 Claim. (Cl. lill-50)' and each ofthe pistons is provided with a pair of bosses or trunnions I adapted to coact with a, double face cani Il, both cams 4il and I5 being fixed to a shaft i8 and in rsuch relative position yas to provide for movement of the cylinders and their respective pistons simultaneously but in 0ppcsite directions.

Also carried by and preferably integral with each of the cylinders I0 to I3 is a pair of guide members, those on cylinder I0 being designated 'by numeral 2E, and those on cylinders II, I2 and I3 being 2 I, 22, and 23 respectively.

These guide members are arranged at 'an angle to the `axis of the cylinder, being in the four cylinder engine, at 45 degrees, and extend outwardly into suitable housings 25.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the guide members are flat members and those of one cylinder contact, in face to face relation, the guide members of adjacent cylinders, for example, one member 20 contacts guide member 22 and the other contacts member 23. These guide members, however, need not be of such proportions as to actually rub against each other at all times, but should be arranged s0 as to be usually a few thous-andths of an inch apart. They will, therefore, preserve the angular spacing of the Ycylinders if, due to slight wear, lateral (with respect to cylinder axes) movement of a reciprocating cylinder should develop.

Because of the reciprocation of the cylinders I0 to I3, they may also be utilized as sleeve valves for the admission and exhaust of gases to and from their combustion chambers, and for this purpose, they are shown as being provided with ports 30 near their outer or head portions, these ports being connected to suitable manifolding (not shown).

In the modication shown in Figure 5, the pistons III) are indicated as fixed to a spider III and designed to remain stationary while the cylinders I0 reciprocate. In this form the cam I1 will of course not be used. Otherwise, the design is the same as that of Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates a slightly diiTerent form of cam in which, instead of a channel such as at I5A in Figures 2 and 3, a single rib such as IEB is used with a pair of trunnions or cam followers IIIA. The pistons, of course, may also be provided with a similar cam I'IA and cam followers IBA.

The present engine design lends itself readily to the construction of engines having a greater number of cylinders than the four illustrated, as a single shaft may have several banks of cylin- 3 ders surrounding it. If these banks are of four cylinders each, two, three or more banks would of course mean eight, twelve or more to an engine.

Further, Without any change in basic design, more or less cylinders may be used in a group or bank and in even or odd numbers. However, if an odd number, say five, is used, two banks will be necessary to obtain all of the advantages such as balance, etc.

While the invention has been described as embodied in an internal combustion engine, it is also contemplated that the principles may be utilized in pumps and other applications without material alteration and in any application it may be found desirable to omit the guides 20 and of course their function.

Now having described the invention and the preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that such invention is to be limited, not to the speciic details herein set forth, but only by the scope of the claim which follows.

I claim:

In an internal combustion engine a plurality of cylinders, said cylinders numbering at least four, a shaft, said cylinders being arranged with their axes radial to said shaft and angularly equiother.

HUGH E. MCCALLION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 879,512 Braunwalder Feb. 18, 1908 1,775,108 Omo Sept. 9, 1930 1,840,919 Sholking Jan. 12, 1932 1,844,478 Omo Feb. 9, 1932 1,940,003 Mattacchione Dec. 19, 1933 2.251.662 Crumpler Aug. 5. 1941 

